Rotatable apron machine for treating hides and similar pieces of work



R. ABBOTT A. ROTATABLE APRON MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES AND SIMILAR PIECES OF WORK May 22 1951 Flled Aug 19, 1949 A. R. ABBOTT 2,553,537 ROTATABLE APRON MACHINE FOR TREATING moss AND SIMILAR moss OF WORK Filed Aug. 19, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 2 May 22, 1951 Inventor: vdrf/wr' flbboff I 5 v4! 1' 0 May 22, 1951 A. R. ABBOTT ROTATABLE APRON MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES AND SIMILAR PIECES OF WORK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 19, 1949 Patented May 22, 1 951 UNITE-D1 sir GFF'lC-E ROTATABLE APRON; MACHINE FOR TREAT? I-NG HIDES: AND1 SIMILAR WORK.

PIECES OF Application August'19, 1949, Serial-Nb; 111L276.

(Cl; (iii-37) I8-Claimsr 1.

This invention relates" torriachines for treating hides, skins; leather and other similar pieces of work; While the invention is illustrated with reference toav machine for removing hair from hides; it is to lo'eunderstood that the invention hasother applications and uses;. such, for" instan'ce; as fleshi'ng', brushing, putting out; and polishing;

Hidesand skins are highly: irregular in contour and theyare alsoba gy; coming; as they do; from the barrel like forms of animals. Many'operations' are performed on suchwork pieces and the nature" of each piece is such that considerable manipulation is" necessary during the treatments given by) the various tannery machines. Feed. rolls tend to mat the hair and sometimes crease; the hide prior to unhairing" in the conventional unhairing" machine" and end-to-end reversal of: each work piece during that. and other machine" operations is usual in order" to retain control of. the: worlt passage during its treatment and to insure full treatment. overeach entire workpiece area. The use of a fiat horizontal table or surfaceforrsupportinga work piece for'tr'eatment'by' a ro riate tools" is common but the. ba'ggin'ess:

other cliaracteristics ofthe work" give rise to? diflicul'ti'es: in applying uniform treatment and? in feeding; the WOX'k through the machine without folding; wrinkling" or creasing it.

An ob'jectof thepresent invention is to provide:

an improvedmachine whichwill permit anopera tion to be performed on the full. area. of a work piece" during one revolution. of the latter; An-

other objectis to provide a machine in which the is a flexible Work+supporting"rotatableapron in combination. with work" treating tool means, one

being movable relative tothe other top1ace"thef parts in operative orsinoperative. position. Stillanother feature is a circular apron offlexible sheetmaterial having a driving chain attached along" its periph'ery" for-rotating it" upon a suit; able 'support.

The' aboveand other features of the invention;-

including various novel details of construction; wilrnow'he m'ore particularly-describedbyrefer iii) ence to" the accompanying drawings and pointed out" in the claims.

In thedrawings; y

Fig. 1 is" a View in' front elevation of one" formof the machine in which the invention is em: bodied, portions of themachine" being? cut away for ease of illustration;

Fi 2 is a sideview of the machineshown Fig; 1', the motor being omitted;

Fig; 4 is a sectional View taken alohg the line IVIV ofFig'. 1 andd'rawn toalarger scale";

Fig. 5' is a pcrspectiveview of a modified form ofmachineem'oodying" theprinciples of "theinvention; and v Fig; 6 is a sectional view along" the line Vi -VI off'Fig'. 5-.

The machine of Figs; 1 to 4 inclusivecombrises a frame'wliich' includesa' horizontal box-like member iiifwhich serves'asa haseandtwodiv'er in g"tubular members l2 and M which arefwelded and rigidly affixed to the top" Wall of the bQX-lik member to? The frame also includesai substan which isfirmly welded at each' end to the" top en'diofone of the tubularmembers [2 or l-"4. The elongate'd"member' IE is substantially cylindrical ihcros's section at'its ends'andis somewhat pearshapedatits'centerasirray be seenin Fig: 4". The top"surface"of the member Hi has a transverse; convex curvature;

Beneath and centrally of the elongated nierii' 1181" I6 a boss? I8 is' provided to which a' bearing blocklil is attached bymeans of bolts 22 and'zo (Fig. 1). The block zais provided with two bearings 26 and 28 in which upper stub sh'a'ftsf'oi conical members 30 and 32 are journaled. These conical niembersmaybe made of wood or some similar lightweightmateiial of suitable strength and they. areprovifded Withend plates 34"and 36" through'twhich thec'o'nica'l members are driven:

A boss-431m l) islocated-on"the"interiorside of the topw'allo'f theb'oxqilze'base Ill and abyss 42" is looa'tedmn the top side of the loottomplate' oftheio'ox like member it. These bosses-areco'rie" centric" and serve as j ournals: for a vertical shaft ffii'to'whichiis 'ke's'ieda gear 4 6 and"apu11"ey48f thrust bearing-3. Bil is placed between the boss 42 and the pulley lii. A" hub 52 isf'o'rmed integral withthe topwallof the base lfland is conc'ent'iic with the axis of the conical member 32 toserve as a journal for a shaft 54 which is adapted todrive the plate 36 and the conicalm'emloer 32: pocket wheel 56 is keyed to the" shaft' 54 just above the boss 52. Inside of the box-like base I gears 58 and 68 (with a common hub 62) are keyed to the shaft 54 and the gear 58 is in engagement with the gear 46. Coaxial with the conical member 39 is a driving shaft I0 which is journaled in a hub 72 integral with the top plate of the base I2. A collar M is pinned to the shaft I9 and bears downwardly on the hub I2. The bottom end of the shaft "Ill has keyed thereto two gears 80 and 32 having a common hub 84 and the gear 80 is in engagement with the gear 46.

A motor 90 is mounted on one end of the base member III and is arranged to drive a pulley 92' and a belt 94 the latter running over the two pulleys 92 and 48.

Beneath the lower end of each of the diverging tubular members I2 and I4 is located a hub 98 or I00. Each of these hubs is inclined slightly to the vertical (parallel to the axis of the adjacent conical member 30 or 32) and supports a non-rotatable sleeve IE2 or I94. The sleeve I82 serves as a journal for a shaft I06 and the upper end of the shaft I06 bears a bevel gear IIlB pinned to it. The bevel gear I08 has a common hub IIB with a spur gear II2 (the latter engaging the gear 60) and a cylindrical plate I Hi. The plate II has a short pin III) projecting downwardly and arranged to engage slots I I8 (Fig. 3) of a Geneva wheel I the latter being adapted to rotate on a shaft I22 supported from the under side of the upper wall of the base member It. Near the periphery of the Geneva wheel I20 is a wedge-like projection I24 which, at the proper time, is adapted to contact and raise the lever I26 of an electrical switch I28. This stop switch I28 is placed in the circuit of the motor 90. --The non-rotatable sleeve I02 (Fig. 1) serves as a journal for a shaft I29 of a bevel gear I30 and a spur gear I32 which are adapted to be driven together as the teeth of the gear I32 are in mesh with the teeth of the gear 82.

The tubular members I2 and M are equipped with power transmission details which are similar. -Therefore only one will be specifically described. The tubular member I4 is provided internally with two bearing blocks I40 and I42 in which is journaled a shaft I44 the lower end of which is pinned to a bevel gear I46 which is in engagement with the bevel gear I08. The upper end of the shaft I44 has keyed thereto a bevel gear I48. The upper end of the tubular member I4 is provided with a boss I50 to which a bracket I52 is attached by means of bolts I54. The upper end of the bracket I52 serves as a bearing for the shaft I56 which is keyed to a bevel gear I53 and pocket wheel I60. The bevel gear I58 is in engagement with the bevel gear A flexible and rubberized apron 200 and without protrusions, circular in form, is draped over the elongated member is and linked along the periphery of the apron is a chain 202. The apron is imperforate except for the attachment of the chain. The links of the chain 202 are proportioned and arranged to drop into the pockets of the two pocket wheels I60 (only one shown) and the single pocket wheel 56. A bracket 2% (Fig. 1) is bolted at 205 to the upper end of the tubular member I4. This bracket is so placed as to restrain the links of the chain 202 from leaving the pockets of the wheel I60. The apron 200 is draped over the elongated top member I6 so that its center is at point P (Figs. 1 and 4) which is elow the convex surface of the member I6.

A treadle 2IG (Fig. 2) is pivoted to the base II) and is arranged to trip a switch 2I2. This switch 2I2 is in the circuit for the motor and the arrangement is such that initial depression of the treadle will close the circuit and the circuit will remain closed (because of the operation of a suitable relay) until it is opened by the switch I28. The specific circuits chosen are not illustrated as no invention resides therein, and the circuits may be selected to suit specific requirements. After an initial depression of the treadle 2I0 a spring 2 I4 is provided to return the lever 2m to its original position.

At one side of the base I0 suitable projections 220 (one shown in Fig. 2) are provided and these serve as journals for a shaft 222 upon which is pivoted a bracket 224 the latter serving as a journal for a shaft 226. The shaft 226 is integral with an unhairing tool 228 which is provided with spiral blades and is tapered in form. The arrangement is such that the planes of action of the tool 228 are parallel with the surfaces of the conical members 30 and 32 when the tool 228 is swung to the position as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The shaft 226 is provided with a pulley r 230 and is adapted to be driven by a belt 232 from a source of power not shown.

A link 24!) (Fig. 2).is pivoted to the bracket 224 and suitable mechanism (not shown) is provided for operating the link 2% to swing the tool 228 with respect to the axis of the shaft 222 toward or away from it operative position.

A hide 242 is partially shown in Fig. 1 to illustrate its position upon the apron 280 when being subjected to treatment by the tool 228.

With the construction as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and assuming that the operation to be performed is an unhairing operation the operator separates the tool 228 from the apron 209 by causing the link 246 to swing the tool 228 so that the axis of the latter assumes the position shown by the line Y of Fig. 2. The operator then drapes the hide 242 over the elongated member I6 and the apron 292. It is of course to be understood that the apron 200 is of such size as to exceed in area that of any work piece to be treated. The operator then steps on the treadle 2i 0 momentarily with the result that the motor 96 operates and the apron 20B rotates with its center of rotation approximately at the point P (Figs. 1 and 4). It is assumed that the tool 228 is being constantly rotated by the belt 232, and when the work piece 222 is in its draped position the link 2% is caused to swing the tool 228 into its position'as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The momentary depression of the treadle 2H) brings about the initiation of the rotation of the apron 200 and the work piece 242. It will be noted that the length of the tool 228 is such that it extends upwardly and beyond the point P, the center of rotation. As the apron and the work piece are rotated about the point P and while in the draped position, the tool 228 is rotated in such a direction about its own axis that the scraping action .of the blades on the work piece is in the direction of-the arrow A as shown in Fig. 4-i. e., radial from the center of rotation of the apron. As the hide 222 continues to rotate different successive portions thereof are treated as they are backed up by the apron 22B and by the conical walls of the members 35! and 32, and when slightly more than a complete revolution of the hide has taken place the action of the gearing in the base I!) and the Geneva wheel I28 will be such as to trip the switch I28 and automatically stop the machine. Breaking of the circuit may be made automatically to return. the tool 238 I to ts; inoperative position (.Yr) although such autom 1 operation is not. essential. The machine s: then ready for the, introduction of the.

ork: pie

In the. second. modification of the machine and; 6) a vertical frame. construction of members is utilized. It is composed of two ast; bas members. 3%- and 3&2. to which are aidied vertic l stanchions 3M and 39.5. A horizontal tubular member 368 is utilized to connect the. two base; members 368: and 362; and it is joined t9 the vertical stanchions 35d andv 3% by stiffenrnembers 3 16 and. 3-i2. These parts are all weld together to form a. unitary structure.

A pr cket 34 4 is ailixed to the. bottom part of the stanchion 38.4; and a bracket 3,16 is fastened to the bottom half of the stanchion 366. These two brackets serve as journals for a. tubular member 318; which. also forms, a. part of the machine Tubular members, 329,, 322 and 324 are ly tastenedto the tubular member M8. The tubular members 326 and. 3.22. are. welded to the tub ;lar; member 3l8; whereas the member 324' is r ly; afii ied to a gear case 325 bolted (in halves) to the, centralportion of the tubular member 3I8.

substantially horizontal. elongated member 3313 in the, form of a tube is supported on the upper end-sol. the tubular members 3.25, 322 and 3 24. The connection; between the member 3124 and the member 339 is by way of a gear case 332 bol thereto and by plates 33d and 3.35. Plate 33.4 is, welded" to each of -the tubular members 32?}, 33! 332-4.v and M8. whereas plate 33.5 is welded to he memb r 32.2. in. 32s and; m.

A 10. 70! 35%! is mounted at one end. of the machineframe; and; is arranged to drive a; shaft 352 passing along the center of the tubular member 3J8" and bevelgears 354 are arranged within the gear box-323; to drive a shaft 3.56 within. the tubula r member 324 A set 369, of three bevel gears is mounted Withinthe gear box 332 and is adapted to. bedrivenby the shaft 356 and they in turn drive two. shafts 362 and 36.4 in opposite directipns The shaft 362 is provided with a universal joint connection 386; to a pocket wheel 3,6,8. The shaft 364, drives. the pocket. wheel 31%) through a, universal joint. connection 3'12.

A circular apron 2 -Elsimilar to that. of Fig. 1 and; with; a chain 202 fixed to its periphery is draped over the elongated tubular member 336 andfis adapted to support a workpiece 374. The apron-is so placed that its center is at point Pt (Figs. Sand-6% with relation to the member 338 The top of the stanchion SM is provided with a motor 49%] which is arranged to drive a helical, bladed tool 4 32 in the direction. asindicated by the arrow (Fig. 5). The toolMlZ terminates at point E (Fig. 5) which is a short. distance-from.

One end of the horizontal tubular member 318 V is provided with an arm MB keyed to it and to the end of this arm is pivoted the operative link 4l2 of a hydraulic motor 414 affixed to the stanchion 395. A switch M6 controlling the desired circuits is mounted on the stanchion 37m.

The operation of the machine shown in Fig. 5

is; similar to that: of the machine shown in Fig. 1 but no conical. or additional backing-up members are required as the substantially horizontal and. elongated member 33d serves not only as a sup-v porting device for the apron and the work piece but. also as a backing-up member to facilitate. operation of the tools 4'Zi2 and 4%..

In the machine ofFig. l the. tool 22.8 is moved into or away from operative position. whereas in the machine of. Fig. 5 the. tools 492 and 406 remain. stationary and the apron, as well as the work. piece, is moved into. and out. oi"v operative relation to the tools 482- and ist by means 02 the hydraulic. motor ll-4. In each machine the. elongatedv member 16 (Fig-1). or 336. (Fig. 5.) may be made up of rotatable. members or segmental rolls out such devices are. not essential as the. friction engendered by the non-rotatable members disclosed has. been found to. be inconsequential.

In actual operation of either machine, the 005-. operation of the tools and. apron is. such that. the flanks. and. irregular portions of; each. hide or. skin are. flattened out while under treatment and the operator need; not unduly concern him.-. self: with. the. manner. in which he drapes, each work piece.

Either'machine as disclosed may be used as a work supporting: and. feeding device without work treating tool being attached thereto. A hand tool such as a. spraying. device may be used to. treat. the. work as the apron revolves.

Having described my invention, what-I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. of the; United States. is:

1.. In: a machine for operating. upon hides, skins, leather and. other similar pieces of work, aframe including an elongated and substantially horizontal member, said member having atop surface with a transverse convex curvature, a circularv apron over said surlace, and means for rotating saidv apron while itisbodily maintained. in position.

J 2. In a. machinev for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar piecesof work, a frameincluding an elongated and substantially horizontal. member, an apron draped over and suspended from both sides of said member, and means for rotating said apron while in its. draped position.

3. In a. machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame. including an elongated member, an apron. draped. over said member, and. means for rotating said apron in its draped position.

4. In a machine for operating upon. hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated member, an apron draped over said member, a chain attached to the periphery ofv said: apron, and means for driving said chain to rotate said apron in its draped position.

5. In a machine for operating upon. hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a, frame. including an elongated member, an apron draped over saidmember, a work treating tool. arranged to treat work placed on'said apron, and means for rotating said apron in its draped position.

6. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated member, an apron draped over said member, a tool arranged to treat work supported on said apron, said apron and tool being relatively movable, and means for rotating said apron in its draped position.

7. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated member, an apron draped over said member, rotatable cones arranged to back up one suspended side of said apron, a tool cooperating with said cones to treat work supported on said apron, said apron and tool being relatively movable, and means for rotating said apron in its draped position.

8. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated and substantially horizontal member having a top surface with a transverse convex curvature, a circular apron draped over said surface, means for backing up one suspended side of said apron, a tool arranged to cooperate with said backing up means to treat a work piece supported on said apron, said tool and apron being relatively movable, and' means for rotating said apron While in its draped position.

9. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated member, and apron draped over said member, a tool arranged to treat a work piece supported on said apron,

means for moving said apron toward and away from said tool, and means for rotating said apron in its draped position.

10. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated and substantially horizontal member, an apron draped over said member, tool means for treating the work piece supported on said apron, said apron being bodily movable toward and away from said tool means, and means for rotating said apron in a draped position.

11. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated and substantially horizontal member having a top surface with a transverse convex curvature, a circular apron draped over said surface, tool means arranged to treat a work piece supported on said apron, means for bodily moving said apron toward and away from said tool means, and means for rotating said apron while in its draped position.

12. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of Work, a stationary frame including an elongated and substantially horizontal member, said member having a top surface with a transverse convex curvature, a circular apron draped over said surface, a chain attached to the periphery of said apron, conical means for backing up one suspended side of said apron, a tool with a helical blade arrangedto cooperate with said conical means to treat a work piece supported on said apron, said tool being movable toward and away from said apron, and means for driving said chain to rotate the said apron while the latter is in its draped position.

13. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated and substantially horizontal member having a top surface with a transverse convex curvature, the circular apron being draped over said surface, said frame also supporting stationary tool means arranged to cooperate with said top surface to treat a work piece supported on said apron, means for moving said top surface and apron toward and away from said tool means, a chain attached to the periphery of said apron, and means for driving said chain to rotate the said apron while in its draped position.

14. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a rotatable and circular apron of flexible material, the central portion of said apron being imperforate and free of protrusions, and means for contacting and driving the periphery of said apron.

15. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame, an apron supported on said frame, means for rotating said apron about a selected point on said frame, and a tool arranged to treat different successive portions of a work piece placed on said apron, the effective line of action of said tool extending radially from the center of rotation of the apron.

16. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame including an elongated horizontal member, an apron of flexible material draped over said member, the central portion of said apron bein imperforate and free of protrusions, a tool arranged to treat a work piece supported on said apron, the path of effective action of said tool being outwardly and parallel with the surface of said central portion, and means for rotating the work piece and apron while the latter is in its draped position.

17. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a frame with an elongated transversely convex surface, a flexible apron with no protrusions on its surface, said apron being draped over and depending from each side of said surface, and means for rotating the draped apron about a center which is below the said convex surface.

18. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other similar work pieces, a rotatable and circular apron of flexible material for supporting a work piece, and means for supporting said apron and for rotating it so as to move different portions of said work piece successively into and out of a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of said apron.

ARTHUR R. ABBOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

